Window mounted raft system

ABSTRACT

An inflatable life raft system for an aircraft includes a window coupled to a fuselage portion of the aircraft. A mechanism is used to selectively detach the window from the fuselage. An inflatable life raft is deployable to the exterior of the aircraft upon detachment of the window from the aircraft.

This is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 13/359,584, filed27 Jan. 2012, titled “Window Mounted Raft System,” which is herebyincorporated herein by reference, and which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/438,859, filed 2 Feb. 2011, which is alsohereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present application relates to a window mounted raft system for anaircraft.

Description of Related Art

Aircraft that frequently fly over large bodies of water may be outfittedwith flotation systems to be used in an emergency landing in the body ofwater. Referring to FIG. 1, a rotorcraft 101 is outfitted with aplurality of inflatable flotation bags located under the rotorcraft.These flotation bags are configured to keep the rotorcraft afloat uponan emergency ditch of the aircraft into the body of water. Furthermore,an inflatable life raft may be packaged with one of the flotation bags,such as raft/flotation package 103. The inflatable life raft isconfigured to provide flotation for the occupants of the rotorcraft.Packaging the life raft with one of the flotation bags causes the sizeof package 103 to cause an undesirable aerodynamic drag upon therotorcraft. Furthermore, the size and location of the liferaft/flotation package 103 encumbers the ingress/egress of passengersto/from the rotorcraft. As such, raft/flotation package 103 issusceptible to damage from being in a high traffic area of aircraftoccupants. Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable for a rotorcraftoperator to selectively remove the life raft from the rotorcraft. Assuch, packaging the life raft with the flotation bag prevents theremoval of the life raft without also removing the flotation bag.Furthermore, packaging the life raft with the flotation bag typicallyrequires a supplemental external compressed air bottle, as well assupplemental plumbing between the life raft and the supplemental bottle.Furthermore, packaging the life raft with the flotation bag keeps therotorcraft pilot or crew from being able to control deployment andoperation of the life raft.

Hence, there is a need for an improved life raft system for an aircraft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the system of the presentapplication are set forth in the appended claims. However, the systemitself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives andadvantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art raft/flotation package on anaircraft;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotorcraft, according to an illustrativeembodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is an exterior perspective view of a window mounted raft system,according to an illustrative embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a partial interior perspective view of the window mounted raftsystem, according to the illustrative embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 5A is a partial interior partial perspective view of the windowmounted raft system, according to the illustrative embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 5B is a partial interior partial perspective view of the windowmounted raft system, according to the illustrative embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 6 is a partial interior perspective view of the window mounted raftsystem, according to the illustrative embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 7 is an exterior perspective view of the window mounted raftsystem, according to the illustrative embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the window mounted raft system, according tothe illustrative embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the window mounted raft system, according to theillustrated embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the window mounted raft system, according tothe illustrated embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the window mounted raft system,according to the illustrative embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of a rotorcraft, according to an alternativeembodiment of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the system of the present application aredescribed below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of anactual implementation are described in this specification. It will ofcourse be appreciated that in the development of any such actualembodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made toachieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which will vary fromone implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated thatsuch a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of this disclosure.

In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationshipsbetween various components and to the spatial orientation of variousaspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attacheddrawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the artafter a complete reading of the present application, the devices,members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in anydesired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,”“upper,” “lower,” or other like terms to describe a spatial relationshipbetween various components or to describe the spatial orientation ofaspects of such components should be understood to describe a relativerelationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspectsof such components, respectively, as the device described herein may beoriented in any desired direction.

Referring to FIG. 2 in the drawings, a rotorcraft 201 is illustrated.Rotorcraft 201 has a rotor system 203 with a plurality of main rotorblades 211. Rotorcraft 201 further includes a fuselage 205, landing gear207, a tail member 209, and tail rotor blades 213. The pitch of eachmain rotor blade 211 can be selectively controlled in order toselectively control direction, thrust, and lift of rotorcraft 201.Further, the pitch of tail rotor blades 213 can be selectivelycontrolled in order to selectively control yaw of rotorcraft 201. Theconfiguration of rotorcraft 201 is illustrated for exemplary purposes.Further, it should be appreciated that the exact configuration ofrotorcraft 201 is implementation specific. For example, rotorcraft 201is not limited to having landing gear 207 with a skid gear variety;rather rotorcraft 201 may have any variety of landing gear shapes andtypes, such as a wheel gear type. It should be appreciated that thesystem of the present application may be incorporated onto aircraftother than rotorcraft 201.

Rotorcraft 201 further includes a raft system 215 mounted to a portionof fuselage 205. In the preferred embodiment, raft system 215 is mountedand located in a fuselage frame 223 that is configured for the mountingof a conventional fixed window frame thereto; however, in alternativeembodiments raft system 215 can be mounted to other fuselage structures.For example, raft system 215 can be adapted for mounting in a fuselageframe 219 that is configured for the mounting of a conventional panelthereto, as discussed further herein with regard to FIG. 12.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3-11, raft system 215 is preferably coupledto fuselage frame 223, which in the illustrated embodiment is aft of thepilot's seat on the right side of rotorcraft 201. It should beappreciated that raft system 215 may be located in a variety of windowframe geometries and locations. The location and size of raft system 215is implementation specific according to the specific configuration ofthe aircraft for which the raft system 215 is installed. Further, raftsystem 215 may be located in multiple locations on rotorcraft 201. Evenfurther, raft system 215 may be incorporated onto aircraft other thanrotorcraft 201.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exterior perspective view of raft system 215 isillustrated. Raft system 215 includes a window 221 coupled to windowframe 217. In the preferred embodiment, window 221 has a bulged contourto provide space for internal components of raft system 215, such as aninflatable life raft 249; however, it should be appreciated analternative embodiment of window 221 can have a non-bulged contoursimilar to the outer contour of rotorcraft 201. Window frame 217 isreleasably coupled to fuselage frame 223 of the fuselage 205 with ahinge 225. A pin mechanism 227 (shown best in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B)allows window frame 217 to be released from its latched position. Uponrelease at pin mechanism 227, window frame 217 opens by rotating aboutan axis defined by hinge 225. Window frame 217 automatically disengagesfrom hinge 225 after outwardly rotating on hinge 225 to a prescribeddegree, thus facilitating separation of window frame 217 and window 221from fuselage 205.

Referring to now also to FIG. 4, an interior partial perspective view ofraft system 215 is illustrated. A pin mechanism 227 is operablyassociated with a handle 229, via a cable 230. Handle 229 isergonomically located so that the pilot can manually pull handle 229,thus releasing window frame 217 resulting in deployment of inflatablelife raft 249, as discussed further herein. Handle 229 is also locatedso that other rotorcraft occupants, such as passengers and/or crewmembers, can access handle 229 and thus deploy inflatable life raft 249of raft system 215. It should be appreciated that an alternativeembodiment of raft system 215 can include an actuator for mechanicallyreleasing window frame 217. For example, the pilot can deploy the liferaft by selecting a button or switch on the flight instrument panel.Further, the life raft may be deployed automatically by communicationbetween the actuator and a sensor device, such as an emersion sensor,that detects a crash of rotorcraft 201 into water.

Referring now also to FIGS. 5A and 5B, pin mechanism 227 is illustratedin further detail. Pin mechanism 227 includes an arm 237 having aforward pin 239 and an aft pin 241. A keeper 235 is rigidly attached towindow frame 217. An upper latch bracket 233 is attached to fuselagestructure via an adapter 231. FIG. 5A illustrates pin mechanism 227 inthe latched position, such that forward pin 239 and aft pin 241 eachpenetrate openings in upper latch bracket 233 and keeper 235, so as tosecure window frame 217 to fuselage frame 223. FIG. 5B illustrates pinmechanism 227 in the unlatched position, such that forward pin 239 andaft pin 241 are removed from openings in upper latch bracket 233 andkeeper 235, so that window frame 217 is free to rotate on hinge 225(shown at least in FIG. 3) and release itself from fuselage frame 223.It should fully be appreciated that pin mechanism 227 is illustrated asone of a variety of mechanisms that can be used to selectively releasewindow frame 217 from fuselage frame 223.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, an interior perspective view of raftsystem 215 is illustrated. A backing plate 243 is coupled to adapter 231and adapter 247 (shown in FIG. 4), via fasteners 245 a-245 d. Backingplate 243 provides separation between cabin space and inflatable liferaft 249, the inflatable life raft 249 being located in the spacebetween the outboard surface of the backing plate 243 and the interiorsurface of window 221. In the illustrated embodiment, inflatable liferaft 249 is primarily secured within the space by the geometryconstraints of backing plate 243 and window 221. Backing plate 243 andinflatable life raft 249 can easily be installed or uninstalled, thusproviding flexibility of use. Furthermore, fasteners 245 a-245 d can bea quick pin type fastener that facilitates installation and removal ofbacking plate 243 and inflatable life raft 249 without tools.

Referring now also to FIGS. 7-10, further illustrations of raft system215 are shown. Window 221 is illustrated having outwardly bulgingcontour to accommodate the volume of inflatable life raft 249. It shouldbe appreciated that the curvature of bulged window 249 is implementationspecific. For example, if raft system 215 is employed on a rotorcraftconfigured to carry only two persons, then inflatable life raft 249 mayhave a smaller volume as compared to an inflatable life raft 249configured to provide flotation for a six person crew. As such, someembodiments of a bulged type window 221 may have minimal depth ofcontour. In another embodiment, the space between backing plate 243 andwindow 221 is sufficient without having to bulge out window 221.Furthermore, the location and geometry of backing plate 243 may alsodictate the curvature of window 221.

Referring now also to FIG. 11, an exterior perspective view of raftsystem 215 is illustrated, with inflatable life raft 249 removed forclarity. Window frame 217 and window 221 are shown partially deployed.As window frame 217 and window 221 are released from rotorcraft 201,inflatable life raft 249 is deployed. Inflatable life raft 249 ispreferably tethered to rotorcraft 201 via a mooring line. Inflatablelife raft 249 can have an internal compressed air tank for inflation ofthe inflatable life raft 249. In another embodiment, inflatable liferaft 249 is inflated by a compressed air tank carried on rotorcraft 201,the compressed air tank being in fluid communication with inflatablelife raft 249 via a plumbing line located with the mooring line. In oneembodiment, inflatable life raft 249 is automatically inflatable upondeployment. In another embodiment, the inflation of inflatable life raft249 is dictated manually. Inflatable life raft 249 preferably includes asurvival kit for convenient access of potential occupants of inflatablelife raft 249.

Referring to FIG. 12, rotorcraft 201 is illustrated with a raft system1215. Raft system 1215 is substantially similar in form and function toraft system 215, except that raft system 1215 is mounted in a fuselageframe 219 that is configured for the mounting of a conventional panelthereto. Raft system 1215 is further distinguished from raft system 215in that a panel 1221 is used in lieu of window 221. Panel 1221 can beopaque, whereas window 221 is preferably translucent. Notwithstandingthe noted distinguishing features of raft system 1215 over raft system215, the entire discussion herein regarding raft system 215 is equallyapplicable to raft system 1215. Similar to window 221, panel 1221 can bebulged or non-bulged, depending upon the implementation. It should beappreciated that even though raft system 1215 is illustrated on an aftportion of the pilot's side of rotorcraft 201, raft system 1215 can belocated at any practical location on fuselage 205.

Raft system 215 includes significant advantages over conventional liferaft systems. Raft system 215 is located in the window area so thatinflatable life raft 249 can be quickly and conveniently be deployed. Inthe event inflatable life raft 249 is not desired for a flight, such asa flight over land, raft system 215 is configured so that inflatablelife raft 249 can easily be removed from the interior of the cabin byfirst removing backing plate 243, via fasteners 245 a-245 d. Similarly,the inflatable life raft 249 can easily be installed prior to a flight.Raft system 215 is configured to reduce undesired aerodynamic drag dueto the location and configuration of window 221, as compared toraft/flotation package 103 shown in FIG. 1. Further, raft system 215reduces obstruction that may otherwise occur if the inflatable life raftwere located on the landing gear, such as raft/flotation package 103shown in FIG. 1. Even further, raft system 215 is independent of anyother kit installation, which provides greater optimization in selectinginflatable life raft 249 for a flight. If the inflatable life raft wereto be jointly located with a flotation bag, such as mid-floatation bagshown in FIG. 1, then the inflatable life raft can't practically beremoved at the rotorcraft operator's leisure.

Raft system 215 is also configured to be easily retrofitted onto anexisting rotorcraft by removing an existing fixed window and furtherinstalling raft system 215. Furthermore, raft system 215 can easily beremoved from the rotorcraft and replaced with the original fixed window.

It is apparent that a system with significant advantages has beendescribed and illustrated. Although the system of the presentapplication is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited tojust these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modificationswithout departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflatable life raft system for a rotorcrafthaving a fuselage, the system comprising: a panel; a hinge attached tothe panel and to the fuselage, wherein the panel is hingedly connectedto the fuselage by the hinge, and wherein the panel is selectivelyremovable from the rotorcraft by rotation to a prescribed degree of thepanel about the hinge; a first adapter coupled to the fuselage; a secondadapter coupled to the fuselage; a mechanism configured for selectivelyremoving the panel from the rotorcraft; an inflatable life raftdeployable to an exterior of the rotorcraft upon removal of the panelfrom the rotorcraft; and a backing plate removably coupled to both thefirst adapter and the second adapter, the backing plate located inboardof the panel, the backing plate being located so as to create a stowagespace for the inflatable life raft between the backing plate and thepanel; wherein the backing plate is removable from the fuselage whilethe panel is closed; wherein the hinge is located on an exterior surfaceof the rotorcraft; and wherein the mechanism configured for selectivelyremoving the panel is only accessed from inside the fuselage of therotorcraft.
 2. The inflatable life raft system according to claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of tool free fasteners; wherein theplurality of tool free fasteners couple the backing plate to both thefirst adapter and the second adapter.
 3. The inflatable life raft systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the panel has an outwardly bulging contourso as to create space for the inflatable life raft.
 4. The inflatablelife raft system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a pinmechanism for selectively detaching the panel from the fuselage of therotorcraft.
 5. The inflatable life raft system according to claim 4,further comprising: a handle operably associated with the pin mechanism,the handle being located so that an occupant of the rotorcraft canactuate the pin mechanism.
 6. The inflatable life raft system accordingto claim 4, the pin mechanism comprising: a latch bracket coupled to thefuselage; a keeper coupled to the panel; and a pin sized for traversalthrough an opening formed by the latch bracket and the keeper.
 7. Theinflatable life raft system according to claim 4, wherein the pinmechanism is located near an upper portion of the panel.
 8. Theinflatable life raft system according to claim 1, further comprising amooring line coupled to the inflatable life raft.